Hospital fundraiser fight

Anger as Barwon Health makes moves to take over one of its philanthropic arms

BARWON Health appears to be moving to consolidate its fundraising arms, a move which sources claim is causing infighting between board members.

The region’s major health care provider has two fundraising arms, the Barwon Health Foundation, launched in 2002, and the Barwon Health Foundation Future Fund, established in 2014.

Barwon Health Foundation is an internal body of Barwon Health, while the foundation future fund is a separate company, although not entirely independent.

A Barwon Health source has claimed the health provider is moving to “take back” the foundation future fund by consolidating it back into Barwon Health, causing a “massive fight” between the boards.

“Melbourne people run Barwon Health and are about to shaft the local fundraiser board,” the source said. “Governor Latrobe and Reverend Andrew Love would turn in their graves.”

Barwon Health did not directly answer questions regarding suggestions of a “massive fight” between boards, but did reveal the trio of bodies were working together to finalise a new structure”.

“The Barwon Health Board, Barwon Health Foundation Board and the Barwon Health Foundation Future Fund are working together on the future of philanthropic support for Barwon Health,” Barwon Health board chair Brian Cook said. “This will ensure we can better meet the expectations of donors and supporters in our community.

“When a structure is finalised, it will be guided by the objectives of Barwon Health and will follow internal and external consultation with various stakeholders.”

It is understood the subject of consolidating the fundraising arm back into Barwon Health was expected to be discussed at a Barwon Health board meeting yesterday.

Barwon Health Foundation Future Fund chair Dan Simmonds declined to comment on the matter. It is understood not all members of the foundation’s board believe there is a dispute over the matter, but rather ongoing talks between the entities to adopt a new framework.

Talk of consolidating the foundation future fund into Barwon Health is not new, with a review of the matter referred to in Barwon health’s 2014/15 annual report.

“… Barwon Health has reviewed the existing arrangements to determine if there are any additional entities that need to be consolidated into the group,” the report noted.

“However, given the current size of the operations of BHFFF, it is considered not material to the organisation.

“As a result, the BHFFF has not consolidated into Barwon Health.”